Make no bones about it: By Eveline Gan, TODAY | Posted: 16 May 2011 1217 hrs SINGAPORE - While I pay much attent...

SINGAPORE - While I pay much attention to my skin, weight and, occasionally, cholesterol levels, rarely do I think about the state of my bones. In fact, I consume calcium-rich foods so infrequently that I can't remember the last time I actually drank milk. Apparently, I'm not alone. Adults aged 18 years and above in Singapore are recommended by the Health Promotion Board to consume 800mg of calcium daily. Yet, local studies show that the average Singaporean consumes about 25 per cent less than the recommended amount - about 600mg or less, said Dr Manju Chandran, director of the Osteoporosis and Bone Metabolism Unit and consultant at the Department of Endocrinology at the Singapore General Hospital. A good calcium intake helps build up your bone bank, which is essential in preventing thinning bones later in life. According to Mrs Magdalin Cheong, chief dietitian and senior ...